A Day of Mourning events list is available on the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour website at sfl.sk.ca | |
Calendar highlights and upcoming events: | |
Spring member visitations, Local 1 & 2 (Viterra) bargaining updates | |
GSU staff reps will soon be on the road for member visitations. In addition to receiving the Annual Report of GSU's Joint Executive Council and discussion of local and sub-local issues, GSU members working for Viterra can also expect a bargaining update report and opportunity for feedback.
Detailed information will be available soon.
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Make Noise for Public Education on April 29 at the Regina legislature building | |
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has growing concerns about cuts to public education and the stressful impact this is having on our teachers and the problems these cuts are creating when it comes to delivering high-quality education to students in under-resourced school environments.
Come to a Rally for Public Education on April 29 in Regina, and tell the government it's time to stop the cuts and start investing in public education. Information on what drove
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A Q&A sheet it available here.
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View or print the event poster here.
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Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Education Opportunities | |
Contact your GSU staff to learn more.
Prairie School for Union Women
Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, SK
June 12-15, 2023
SFL Summer Camp
Shekinah Retreat Centre (Near Waldheim, SK)
August 19-25, 2023
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On April 25, PSAC members across Canada finished their first full week on the picket line. They have been without a new collective agreement since theirs expired in the Summer of 2021. | |
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Picket lines went up across the country on April 19 when more than 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada members working for Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency began strike action.
“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “Now more than ever, workers need fair wages, good working conditions and inclusive workplaces. And it’s clear the only way we’ll achieve that is by taking strike action to show the government that workers can’t wait.”
“Workers go on strike because they feel very strongly that important changes need to be made to their collective agreements, and the issues PSAC members are fighting for aren’t any different than those GSU members are bargaining for,” said GSU general secretary Steve Torgerson. “When we watch or read the news or talk to people about this strike, one of the first items that comes up is the disruption to services this strike is having. We often get upset and blame the workers for the disruption, but we forget to look at why they are taking this action.”
GSU members who have just finished bargaining, are in the middle of negotiations or preparing to bargain will be able to see this strike for what it is: workers standing up and standing together to insist their employers listen.
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GSU members are encouraged to find a nearby PSAC picket line, walk and talk with PSAC members, and show them your support. | |
Thinking about retirement? Call your GSU staff rep | |
By Donna Driediger, GSU staff representative | |
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GSU members often ask us what the best plan for retirement would be.
When you are looking toward your golden years, there are many factors and things to consider. Things like:
- making sure you have accessed all the health benefits you are entitled to prior to retiring,
- how saving all your vacation to take at the end of your career could impact you, and
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how much time it will take pension administrators to push the paperwork to ensure your choices are secured.
Your GSU staff rep can provide you with information regarding your pension, calculate your commuted value, and help create your checklist of important things you need to do before packing up your desk and heading out the door.
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Be sure to reach out to us if you are thinking about retiring | |
Our services are provided to you and paid for by your union dues, there is no limit on the times you can contact us, and there is never an additional charge for assisting you. | |
When the highway home is closed by a snowstorm, where do you go after your work shift? | |
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GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven is addressing the complaint of a member who arrived at work before last week's heavy April snowfall only to finish their shift and find the highway home had been closed.
Van Luven is arguing that the company delayed properly sheltering their employee, while the company has stated that after the employee's work shift is over, they have no responsibility for the employee's safety.
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When there are problems in the workplace, talk to your staff representative. Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you in any way way we can, but we won't contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction and approval from you.
These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.
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It takes a combination of hard work and educational funding for most students to achieve their goals. GSU is pleased to offer $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community. | |
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The scholarship competition is open to GSU members, their spouses, and dependent children who have not previously won.
Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country.
Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2023.
Learn more here.
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Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining - Union to begin member consultations in May | |
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Your GSU Local 1 and 2 bargaining committee members are prepared to meet their management counterparts for bargaining tomorrow and Thursday on April 26 & 27, and May 9, 10 & 11.
Regardless of what takes place on April 26 & 27, the GSU bargaining committee is planning to hold town-hall Zoom meetings and in-person membership meetings for each sub-local in May.
Watch your email or ask a bargaining committee member for details.
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You can read previous updates on the VITERRA BARGAINING page on GSU's main web page under the Bargaining menu tab. Contact Mason@gsu.ca to be added to our bargaining update email list. | |
GSU bargaining committee members are Local 1 – Jim Brown (Balgonie), Wilfred Harris (Carnduff), Shannon Antonenko (Lloydminster), David Barrett (Gull Lake) and Travis Brewer (Saskatoon); Local 2 – Sheila Tran, Howard Wilson and Kaylee Kruger with assistance from GSU staff representatives Mason Van Luven and Steve Torgerson (GSU bargaining committee spokesperson). | |
Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining impasse: working to confirm dates for mediation | |
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On March 30 the union was advised that mediator Kevin Eckert had been appointed to assist the parties in their efforts to reach a negotiated settlement. We have been in contact with Mr. Eckert, and exchanging emails with him and the company's outside counsel in an effort to find dates for conciliation.
GSU's Local 5 bargaining committee is holding a membership meeting later today to provide members with an update and give them an opportunity to ask questions.
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The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Hugh Wagner (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).
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Local 7 (Heartland Livestock Services/Northern Livestock Sales) - company approves draft collective agreement, retro pay to be paid April 28 | |
Company representatives have agreed to the wording of the new collective agreement covering Local 7 (Heartland Livestock Services/Northern Livestock Sales) members. They have also notified the union that members can expect their retroactive pay on April 28.
Once the agreement has been signed, collective agreement booklets will be prepared for members.
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Contact Mason@gsu.ca if you have any questions about your new agreement. | |
Local 16 (Lake Country Co-op) - the new collective agreement will soon be ready for distribution to members | |
GSU staff rep Brian Lark has prepared the new collective bargaining agreements with the amendments made during the recent round of bargaining. The agreement has been sent to Lake Country Co-op representatives for review. Pending any updates or changes that need to be made, the new collective agreement should be in the hands of members soon. |
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Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) - new collective agreement will soon be ready for distribution | |
The final adjustments are being made to the new collective bargaining agreement. We anticipate that it won't be long until the wording is finalized and ready to share with members of GSU Local 17. | |
Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) bargaining moved to first week of May | |
The first bargaining session was set to begin March 28, 29 and 30. At the company's request, bargaining will now take place during the first week of May. | |
GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Christina Jones, Trent Herring and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. | |
Have something nice to say about someone? Tell them! | |
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Everyone likes to be appreciated, seen and heard, so when you have a flattering thought about someone, why not let them know?
It's unfortunate that often the nicest things we hear about someone is often at their funeral. Make a point of brightening someone's day by telling them just how great you think they are.
If you are struggling for what you could say, here's some inspiration:
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